Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Newcastle Cost of Living Comparison Between Lisbon and Newcastle

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,291 in Lisbon versus $975 in Newcastle.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,322 in Lisbon versus $1,511 in Newcastle.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,354 in Lisbon versus $2,048 in Newcastle.

Living in Lisbon is roughly 135% more expensive than in Newcastle, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 71% above, Newcastle is 27% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.19 €14.18
$8.37 R 138
93.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.3 €55.5
$34.22 R 565
85.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.32 €9.04
$4.73 R 78.1
118.18%
Cappuccino
$2.83 €2.48
$2.01 R 33.21
40.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 €2.01
$1.02 R 16.77
124.51%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58 €1.38
$0.88 R 14.58
79.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 €2.98
$2.27 R 37.42
49.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.03 €3.53
$2.83 R 46.72
42.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 €0.96
$1.17 R 19.25
-6.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.75 €1.53
$1.02 R 16.91
71.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$1.22 R 20.22
44.26%
Eggs
$3.17 €2.77
$1.73 R 28.53
83.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 €11.56
$6.27 R 103
110.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.97 €6.98
$4.44 R 73.3
79.50%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.53 €13.60
$6.55 R 108
137.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 €2.07
$0.85 R 13.99
178.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 €1.49
$1.01 R 16.67
69.31%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.01 €1.76
$0.94 R 15.55
113.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.43 €2.13
$1.24 R 20.53
95.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.76 €1.54
$0.96 R 15.86
83.33%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 €1.78
$1.16 R 19.11
75.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.92 €1.68
$0.68 R 11.18
182.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.74
$0.53 R 8.81
60.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.58 €5.76
$2.73 R 45.00
141.03%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.58 €4.89
$3.09 R 50.9
80.58%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 €1.17
$1.34 R 22.09
-0.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 €2.60
$0.87 R 14.30
241.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 €1.99
$1.62 R 26.75
40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$45.79 €40.10
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.23 €3.70
$1.37 R 22.53
208.76%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.81 €0.71
$1.38 R 22.80
-41.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$18.44 €16.15
$2.99 R 49.35
516.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.08 €1.82
$1.25 R 20.66
66.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7K €30.4K
$19.1K R 315.0K
81.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.2K €34.3K
$26.5K R 436.9K
47.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$148 €130
$125 R 2,067
18.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.46 €17.92
$37.09 R 612
-44.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.56 €34.64
$38.87 R 642
1.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.99 €42.03
$30.98 R 511
54.91%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.60 €16.29
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.22 €8.08
$7.76 R 128
18.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$616 €540
$194 R 3,196
218.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K €14.4K
$4,291 R 70.8K
283.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$103 €90.0
$50.2 R 829
104.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.74 €36.55
$31.60 R 522
32.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$94.8 €83.0
$86.5 R 1,427
9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 €107
$87.8 R 1,448
39.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,633 €1,430
$366 R 6,041
346.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,232 €1,079
$337 R 5,569
265.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,098 €2,713
$685 R 11.3K
352.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,031 €1,779
$705 R 11.6K
188.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,831 €6,858
$876 R 14.5K
794.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$4,389 €3,844
$608 R 10.0K
622.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Newcastle
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,607 €1,408
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.81
11.69
-67.41%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026

Last update for Newcastle: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,633 in Lisbon and $366 in Newcastle. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $34.00 in Newcastle for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $267 vs $144 per month, with Newcastle cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Lisbon vs Newcastle: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Lisbon and in Newcastle?
Lisbon and Newcastle differ by about 135% in total monthly costs ($2,291 vs $975 including rent). Newcastle is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Lisbon compared to Newcastle?
You'd need roughly $3,437 in Lisbon and $1,463 in Newcastle to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Lisbon and in Newcastle?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,633 in Lisbon versus $366 in Newcastle. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 86% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Lisbon or Newcastle?
All in, you'll spend $2,291 per month in Lisbon versus $975 in Newcastle – a 135% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $975 in Newcastle versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Newcastle but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Newcastle the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Lisbon and Newcastle?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Lisbon or Newcastle safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Newcastle are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Lisbon or Newcastle?
Expats usually find Newcastle gentler on the wallet – expenses run 135% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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